European Directive 98/70/EC

The European Directive 98/70/EC of 13 October 1998 [1] relating to "the quality of petrol and diesel fuels" meets the commitment that target values would be adopted involving a substantial reduction in pollutant emissions from motor vehicles after the year 2000. It sets the environmental specifications to be applied (with effect from 1st January 2000 and 1st January 2005) to fuels for vehicles equipped with positive ignition engines (petrol) and with compression ignition engines (diesel).

In order to meet the higher and higher environmental requirements (EURO norms, sulphur content, introduction of biofuels, etc.), the European Directive 2003/17/EC was successively modified by the Directives 2007/17/EC and 2009/30/EC. The two Directives are briefly described below.

The annexes of the Directive 98/70/CE indicate the environmental specifications applicable to "petrol" and "diesel" types of fuels, the vapour pressure waiver permitted for petrol containing bioethanol, and finally the rules for calculating life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels.

The permitted vapour pressure waiver for intermediate ethanol content between the values listed, shall be determined by a straight line extrapolation between the ethanol content immediately above and that immediately below the intermediate value.

Ethanol content [% v/v] Vapour pressure waiver permitted [kPa] 0 0,00 1 3,65 2 5,95 3 7,20 4 7,80 5 8,00 6 8,00 7 7,94 8 7,88 9 7,82 10 7,76

The impact analysis report of the Joint Research Centre, realized in the frame of the proposal preparation, indicates the change in the vapour pressure (kPa) as a function of the incorporation rate of ethanol in gasoline (in % vol.). The vapour pressure (VP) increases with the incorporation rate up to 5-7% vol. ethanol before dropping again. The vapour pressure of standard gasoline (i.e. 60 kPa) is reached at 45% vol. (not shown on the diagram above). One can notice on the figure above that the waiver leaves some margin with respect to the actual increase of vapour pressure. This margin is the lowest around 5-7% ethanol.

The norms in force defining the specifications of the fuels on the market are given in the table below (see also [2], [3], [4]).

Table: European and Swiss Norms in force according to the type of fuel

The Directive 98/70/EC is amended by the European Directive 2003/17/EC of 3 March 2003 [5]. The latter requires Member States to ensure that unleaded petrol and diesel fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg are marketed within their territories by no later than 1st January 2005. By no later than 1st January 2009 they must ensure that unleaded petrol and diesel fuel marketed in their territory complies with the environmental specifications set out in Annexes III and IV to the Directive (except for the sulphur content, which must be a maximum of 10 mg/kg).

In order to meet the higher and higher environmental requirements (EURO norms, sulphur content, introduction of biofuels, etc.), the European Directive 2003/17/EC states the following:

"By 31 December 2005 at the latest, the Commission shall review the fuel specifications of Annexes III and IV with the exception of sulphur content and propose amendments, if appropriate, in keeping with current and future requirements of Community vehicle emission and air quality legislation and related objectives."

This update of vehicle fuel specifications of fuel focuses on the following aspects:

• propose the amendment of standard EN 14214 to facilitate the use of a broader range of vegetable oils for biodiesel, to the extent feasible without significant ill-effects on fuel performance (the current standard indeed limiting the commercialization of biodiesel in the EU to rape methyl ester);
• adapt the vapour pressure and stability of bioethanol/gasoline blends (EN 228);
• establish a standard for fuel-bioethanol used as a blending component in gasoline at low incorporation rates (European Norm EN 15376, CEN/TC 19 ethanol task force) ;
• establishing a standard for E85 (Commission Workshop Agreement CWA 15293);
• define new provisions regarding biodiesel/diesel and bioethanol/gasoline blends above 5% vol. biofuels;

The target regarding biofuels penetration in 2010 (i.e. 5.75% of all gasoline and diesel for transport purposes, as calculated on the basis of energy content) indeed cannot be achieved according to current standards of gasoline and diesel. Through standards EN 590 (diesel) and EN 228 (gasoline), the incorporation of biodiesel in diesel and of bioethanol in gasoline is indeed limited to 5% vol., i.e. 4.6% and 3.4% respectively on the basis of energy content. The incorporation of ETBE is limited to 15% vol., i.e. 5.3% ethanol on the basis of energy content.

The recent work of the Commission led to a proposal for a Directive amending European Directive 98/70/EC, the content of which is summarized below.

The Directive 98/70/EC is amended by the European Directive 2009/30/EC of 23 April 2009 [6]. The latter aims at improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through environmental standards for fuel. It will also facilitate the more widespread blending of biofuels into petrol and diesel and, to avoid negative consequences, set ambitious sustainability criteria for biofuels.

The revised directive introduces for the first time a reduction target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fuels. By 2020, fuel suppliers have to decrease by 6% climate-harming emissions over the entire life-cycle of their products. This can be reached in particular by admixing biofuels to petrol and diesel as well as by improving production technology in refineries. Member states may require an additional 4% reduction from fuel companies, achieved through the supply of energy for electric vehicles or other clean technologies, including carbon credits from third countries (so-called "Clean Development Mechanism").

To enable these GHG emissions cuts, petrol may have a higher biofuel content. From 2011, petrol may contain up to 10% (vol.) ethanol. In order to avoid damage to old cars, however, fuel with 5% (vol.) ethanol will continue to be available until 2013, with the possibility for member states to extend that period.

The directive also incorporates the same environmental and social sustainability criteria for biofuels as in Directive 2009/28/EC. It imposes limits on the content of sulphur and metallic additives in engine fuel. Finally, the maximum vapour pressure of fuel is also prescribed in order to minimise emissions of volatile air pollutants.

The revised environmental quality standards as well as the sustainability criteria for biofuels will apply from 2011. Member states are required to transpose the directive into national law by the end of 2010.